REVIEW – Within the final 12 months I’ve picked up 3D printing on a filament printer as a brand new interest. I’ve printed fidget toys, dragons, thought prototyping, and even some theater props and gone by a number of kilos of filament within the course of. One of many points I’ve seen, particularly when printing massive items, is working out of filament mid-print and having printing error out or cease with blended outcomes. I’ve seen filament fusing/becoming a member of instruments, however haven’t had an opportunity to strive one till now. Enter the Sunlu Filament Connector. The Sunlu Filament Connector claims to provide the skill to affix filament strands simply and rapidly. Let’s see the way it did!
What’s it?
The Sunlu Filament Connector is a instrument that lets you be a part of strands of 1.75mm 3D printing filament of the identical sort.
What’s included?
- Sunlu Filament Connector
- USB Connector
- 200 Filament Connector sleeves
- Blurry directions
Magnifying glass not included.
Tech specs
- Dimension: 111×79.4x38mm
- Web Weight:
- Working Temperature / Humidity: 10C – 25C / <90%
- Most Temperature: 250C
- Energy Enter: 5V 2A
- Standby Present: 15mA
- Most Working Present: 2A
- Filament Diameter: 1.75mm
Design and options
The Sunlu Filament Connector has one operate. You guessed it. It connects and fuses filament collectively. It touts with the ability to join PCL, PLA, ABS, PETG, and PA/PC filament. You’ll be able to solely join similar varieties collectively, so no PLA to PETG fusing. I can’t think about who would need to do this in any case, as a result of it might simply mess your 3D print up.
Setup
Setup was easy. Other than discovering a USB charger with the appropriate voltage, the unit is just about plug and play. The advisable energy enter on the very tiny and blurry directions is a 5V 2A energy provide. Since I appear to have a surfeit of chargers floating round my home I used to be capable of get it linked and powered up.
Efficiency
Utilizing the connector was simple as soon as I used to be capable of interpret the blurry and tiny directions. Since that is probably a pre-release mannequin, I think about that there will probably be a a lot better consumer guide included within the full-production packing containers.
The way in which that this connector works is that you simply slide a fusion sleeve over one finish of a filament that you simply need to join after which slide the opposite filament into the opposite finish. The fusion sleeve is constituted of PTFE, so it has the next melting level than the completely different filaments that you’re connecting.
Plugging the filament connector in, the entrance show lights up and you may choose the filament sort and regulate the temperature as wanted. The precise fusing mechanism is protected by a defend that latches down.
As soon as the aspect comes as much as the suitable temperature for the filament you’re utilizing it’s able to go.
As soon as at temperature, you place the fusion sleeve with the filament on every finish into the fusing aspect and shut the defend. As soon as closed, it’s important to begin the clock and push the 2 ends in direction of one another. The primary time I did this, I made the error of not studying the directions as to how lengthy it wanted to go, and the filament received too sizzling and melted an excessive amount of, as you may see under.
Going again to the blurry directions, I discovered the advisable fusion time of 7-8 seconds for PLA and tried once more.
The second time across the outcomes had been rather more profitable!
Efficiently fused, the subsequent step is to take away the fusion sleeve. Behind the fusing aspect, there’s a slot with a protracted blade to chop the sleeve with out reducing the filament inside. You simply lay the sleeve contained in the slot and shut the duvet to push it down into the cutter. The output seems like this:
The top consequence after you take away the sleeve is a seamlessly fused steady strand of filament.
I wished to make a variable coloured strand of filament to print one thing with, so I did this a few occasions and put it again on a spool. This was in all probability the toughest a part of the entire course of. Getting filament on a spool evenly may be very troublesome to do.
The ultimate take a look at of the method was working it by a 3D printer with a benchy to see if it holds up.
Once more, seamless fuse and transition right into a print.
What I like about Sunlu Filament Connector
- It’s a small and easy product that does what it advertises
- USB energy is at all times going to be a plus in my ebook
- The show is brilliant and clear. Adjusting the temperature was straightforward and the controls are intuitive.
- I had the unit up and working in beneath half-hour. Essentially the most troublesome a part of utilizing it’s wrangling the filament.
What must be improved?
- A greater and extra readable consumer guide can be improbable. Once more, I feel this was a pre-release field, so I think about that will probably be in place for the manufacturing fashions.
- Requiring the little fusion sleeves is annoying, however it would take me a really very long time to undergo the 200 included within the field
- Nothing else
Ultimate ideas
This little system works. You want to concentrate to the directions, as a result of there are a number of factors within the fusion course of to mess up and presumably burn your self. That is extremely popular, however that ought to be apparent given the operate it’s performing. Don’t let younger kids strive it themselves. If you would like a approach to make your individual multi-colored strands or be a part of rolls collectively for uninterrupted longer prints, this can allow you to do this. The half I struggled with probably the most wasn’t fusing the filament collectively, it was respooling the filament I had fused. On the small Benchy I made it wasn’t an enormous deal, however nonetheless annoying. On a really massive fusion challenge it turns into extra problematic. There are respooling instruments on the market you may construct your self or purchase, however that will be a evaluate for a unique day. I like to recommend this instrument if you happen to’re trying to make your individual multi-colored filament strands or if you happen to’re prepping for a really massive print you need to run uninterrupted.
Value: $34.99
The place to purchase: Sunlu
Supply: The pattern of this product was supplied free of charge by Sunlu. Sunlu didn’t have a ultimate say on the evaluate and didn’t preview the evaluate earlier than it was printed.
